Novice sailors storming through ‘waves like ski slopes’ towards Cape Town in a global sailing race.
Two hundred ordinary people from all walks of life, including six South Africans, have arrived at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, after racing 24 hours a day in the second stage of Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
In total, over 688 crew will take part in the 41,165 nautical mile circumnavigation, which started from London, UK on 1 September 2019, and takes eleven months to complete.
Crew can choose to race around the world or take part in one of more of the eight individual stages with the global route continuing from South Africa to Australia, China, the USA, Bermuda, Northern Ireland before finishing back in London.
The Clipper Race was founded in 1996 by legendary yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. Now in its twelfth edition, some 5,000 everyday people have experienced the thrill of ocean racing through the Clipper Race, still more people have climbed Mount Everest than sailed around the world.
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
The race is an epic eleven month-long sailing race. An endurance test like no other, it is the only event of its type that takes everyday people, regardless of previous sailing experience, and trains them to become ocean racers.
Teams arrive at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront between Friday 7 – Monday 11 November 2019*. The race will resume on Sunday 17 November after a break in the Mother City.
See the yachts: If you would like to catch a glimpse of or peer around some of the yachts, there will be free public Clipper Race Boats Tours: Wednesday 13 – Friday 15 November 12:00-19:00.
Its frenetic! A far cry from their normal daily routines, these remarkable men and women are preparing for the next leg. #CapeTown – Fremantle
Sunday 17th November: 1200-1500#ClipperRace pic.twitter.com/MrYhT5Usk1
— Noel (@crowieN) November 10, 2019
Land ahoy! That moment you spot land after a tough 15 days at sea, hurtling through storms with close to 70 knots of wind and 9 metre waves. Our team made it safe to Cape Town, with the sun waiting to greet us and a well-deserved cold beer! @MetroUK @ClipperRace @mustoclothing pic.twitter.com/VKnADMhbAX
— Sadie Whitelocks (@isleofsadie) November 11, 2019
In third place for this leg of the race is the UNICEF_UK team.
Well done @UNICEF_uk crossing the finish line of Race 3 at 17:02:45UTC to take third place, and take the final position on the podium of the @Spinlock_HQ South Atlantic Showdown! pic.twitter.com/rC0ZN3lIW3
— The Clipper Race (@ClipperRace) November 8, 2019
In second place for this leg, The Yacht Club Punta Del Este.
Congratulations to @YachtClubPE on securing second place in Race 3: the @Spinlock_HQ South Atlantic Showdown from its home port!! Crossing the finish line under #TableMountain in #CapeTown at 15:25:56 UTC on 8 November. pic.twitter.com/47FB3Ac6kC
— The Clipper Race (@ClipperRace) November 8, 2019
In first place, the Qingdao team from China.
The winner of Race 3: The @Spinlock_HQ South Atlantic Showdown is @loveqingdao who crossed the finish line into Cape Town on 08/11/19 at 07:06:12UTC in 1st place. Congratulations to Chris, Rhiannon and the team. #ClipperRace pic.twitter.com/oUVdqBCHan
— The Clipper Race (@ClipperRace) November 8, 2019
The crew members, racing across eleven identical yachts, have raced (and will continue to race) through hurricane-force winds, waves as tall as tower blocks and have the mental strength to push through extreme heat and freezing conditions, all while living and working with strangers in the confines of a 70ft racing yacht without any home comforts.
When crew return to London next July, they will be joining an elite group; more people have climbed Mount Everest than sailed around the world.
*Note: The arrival window will vary depending on the weather and conditions experienced by the teams. More precise ETAs will be available as the fleet approaches Cape Town on the Clipper Race website
Image: Supplied
